Alok Verma, Rakesh Asthana Sent On Leave: ‘Internal war in CBI and its coming out in public is not good as the confidence of the public in CBI is affected,’ says Soli Sorabjee

CBI top boss Alok Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana were sent on leave by the Centre on the recommendation of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC). Speaking on the matter, eminent jurist Soli Sorabjee said that CBI should have sorted out the differences inside and shouldn't have made it public. Sorabjee said the feud has impacted the credibility of the investigating agency.

“I am not concerned about the money, but about the controversy that is happening in the CBI. I don't like these developments as CBI is the most important part. And this is not good and it is lack of confidence in those transferred officers. They can go to court if they want to. But let's wait till Friday and see what the Supreme Court has to say about this. The internal war in CBI and its coming out in public is not good as the confidence of the public in CBI is affected. Please sort out the differences inside and don't take it out as it affects the credibility of the organization. This is not good for an institution like CBI. Stability is affected and it takes a long time to get it back,” Soli Sorabjee asserted.

READ: CVC Issues Statement On CBI Top Officials Alok Verma And Rakesh Asthana Being Sent On Leave. Read It Here

Both Alok Verma and Rakesh Asthana have been asked to step aside till investigation is complete, as per the recommendation of the CVC. The Superintendence of investigation is under CVC as per the law. The CVC has said that since there are charges and counter-charges both have to step aside for a fair investigation.

Amid row between the number 1 and number 2 at CBI, the Centre appointed Joint Director M Nageshwar Rao as the interim CBI director in an unprecedented move. Nageshwar Rao took charge as the CBI Interim Director around 2 am this morning, as per the sources.

READ: MASSIVE | After CBI Director Alok Verma Sent On Leave, Officer Probing Rakesh Asthana, Dy SP Ajay Bassi, Transferred

Meanwhile, a new team has been put in place to handle the Rakesh Asthana case, after the Government decided to transfer the previous Investigating Officer Ajay Bassi to Port Blair. The new team that will probe the Asthana case will comprise of Satish Dagar, SP, Tarun Gauba, DIG and V Murugesan, Joint Director, among others.